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Selected Verse: Romans 14:15 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Ro 14:15	Strong Concordance	But [1161] if [1487] thy [4675] brother [80] be grieved [3076] with [1223] thy meat [1033], now [3765] walkest thou [4043] not [3765] charitably [26] [2596]. Destroy [622] not [3361] him [1565] with thy [4675] meat [1033], for [5228] whom [3739] Christ [5547] died [599].
	King James	But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
But if thy brother be grieved--has his weak conscience hurt with thy meat--rather, "because of meat." The word "meat" is purposely selected as something contemptible in contrast with the tremendous risk run for its sake. Accordingly, in the next clause, that idea is brought out with great strength. Destroy not him with--"by" thy meat for whom Christ died--"The worth of even the poorest and weakest brother cannot be more emphatically expressed than by the words, 'for whom Christ died'" [OLSHAUSEN]. The same sentiment is expressed with equal sharpness in Co1 8:11. Whatever tends to make anyone violate his conscience tends to the destruction of his soul; and he who helps, whether wittingly or no, to bring about the one is guilty of aiding to accomplish the other.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

But if thy brother be grieved--has his weak conscience hurt

with thy meat--rather, "because of meat." The word "meat" is purposely selected as something contemptible in contrast with the tremendous risk run for its sake. Accordingly, in the next clause, that idea is brought out with great strength.

Destroy not him with--"by"

thy meat for whom Christ died--"The worth of even the poorest and weakest brother cannot be more emphatically expressed than by the words, 'for whom Christ died'" [OLSHAUSEN]. The same sentiment is expressed with equal sharpness in Co1 8:11. Whatever tends to make anyone violate his conscience tends to the destruction of his soul; and he who helps, whether wittingly or no, to bring about the one is guilty of aiding to accomplish the other.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
But if thy brother ... - This address is to the "Gentile" convert. In the previous verse, Paul admitted. that the prejudice of the Jew was not well-founded. But admitting that still the question was, "how" he should be treated while he had that prejudice. The apostle here shows the Gentile that "he" ought not so to act as unnecessarily to wound his feelings, or to grieve him. Be grieved - Be pained; as a conscientious man always is, when he sees another, and especially a Christian brother, do anything which "he" esteems to be wrong. The "pain" would be real, though the "opinion" from which it arose might not be well founded. With thy meat - Greek, On account of meat, or food; that is, because "you" eat what he regards as unclean. Now walkest - To "walk," in the Sacred Scriptures, often denotes to act, or to do a thing; Mar 7:5; Act 21:21; Rom 6:4; Rom 8:1, Rom 8:4. Here it means that if the Gentile convert persevered in the use of such food, notwithstanding the conscientious scruples of the Jew, he violated the law of love. Charitably - Greek, According to charity, or love; that is, he would violate that law which required him to sacrifice his own comfort to promote the happiness of his brother; Co1 13:5; Co1 10:24, Co1 10:28-29; Phi 2:4, Phi 2:21. Destroy not him - The word "destroy" here refers, doubtless, to the ruin of the soul in hell. It properly denotes ruin or destruction, and is applied to the ruin or "corruption" of various things, in the New Testament. To life Mat 10:39; to a reward, in the sense of "losing" it Mar 10:41; Luk 15:4; to food Joh 6:27; to the Israelites represented as lost or wandering Mat 10:6; to "wisdom" that is rendered "vain" Co1 1:9; to "bottles," rendered "useless" Mat 9:17, etc. But it is also frequently applied to destruction in hell, to the everlasting ruin of the soul; Mat 10:28, "Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell;" Mat 18:14; Joh 3:15; Rom 2:12. That "this" is its meaning here is apparent from the parallel place in Co1 8:11, "And through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish." If it be asked how the eating of meat by the Gentile convert could be connected with the perdition of the Jew, I reply, that the apostle supposes that in this way an occasion of stumbling would be afforded to him, and he would come into condemnation. He might be led by example to partake against his own conscience, or he might be excited to anger, disgust, and apostasy from the Christian faith. Though the apostle believed that all who were true Christians would be saved, Rom 8:30-39, yet he believed that it would be brought about by the use of means, and that nothing should be done that would tend to hinder or endanger their salvation; Heb 6:4-9; Heb 2:1. God does not bring his people to heaven without the use of "means adapted to the end," and one of those means is that employed here to warn professing Christians against such conduct as might jeopard the salvation of their brethren. For whom Christ died - The apostle speaks here of the possibility of endangering the salvation of those for whom Christ died, just as he does respecting the salvation of those who are in fact Christians. By those for whom Christ died, he undoubtedly refers here to "true Christians," for the whole discussion relates to them, and them only; compare Rom 14:3-4, Rom 14:7-8. This passage should not be brought, therefore, to prove that Christ died for all people, or for any who shall finally perish. Such a doctrine is undoubtedly true (in this sense; that there is in the death of Christ a "sufficiency for all," and that the "offer" is to all.) (compare Co2 5:14-15; Jo1 2:2; Pe2 2:1), but it is not the truth which is taught here. The design is to show the criminality of a course that would tend to the ruin of a brother. For these weak brethren, Christ laid down his precious life. He loved them; and shall we, to gratify our appetites, pursue a course which will tend to defeat the work of Christ, and ruin the souls redeemed by his blood?

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

But if thy brother ... - This address is to the "Gentile" convert. In the previous verse, Paul admitted. that the prejudice of the Jew was not well-founded. But admitting that still the question was, "how" he should be treated while he had that prejudice. The apostle here shows the Gentile that "he" ought not so to act as unnecessarily to wound his feelings, or to grieve him.

Be grieved - Be pained; as a conscientious man always is, when he sees another, and especially a Christian brother, do anything which "he" esteems to be wrong. The "pain" would be real, though the "opinion" from which it arose might not be well founded.

With thy meat - Greek, On account of meat, or food; that is, because "you" eat what he regards as unclean.

Now walkest - To "walk," in the Sacred Scriptures, often denotes to act, or to do a thing; Mar 7:5; Act 21:21; Rom 6:4; Rom 8:1, Rom 8:4. Here it means that if the Gentile convert persevered in the use of such food, notwithstanding the conscientious scruples of the Jew, he violated the law of love.

Charitably - Greek, According to charity, or love; that is, he would violate that law which required him to sacrifice his own comfort to promote the happiness of his brother; Co1 13:5; Co1 10:24, Co1 10:28-29; Phi 2:4, Phi 2:21.

Destroy not him - The word "destroy" here refers, doubtless, to the ruin of the soul in hell. It properly denotes ruin or destruction, and is applied to the ruin or "corruption" of various things, in the New Testament. To life Mat 10:39; to a reward, in the sense of "losing" it Mar 10:41; Luk 15:4; to food Joh 6:27; to the Israelites represented as lost or wandering Mat 10:6; to "wisdom" that is rendered "vain" Co1 1:9; to "bottles," rendered "useless" Mat 9:17, etc. But it is also frequently applied to destruction in hell, to the everlasting ruin of the soul; Mat 10:28, "Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell;" Mat 18:14; Joh 3:15; Rom 2:12. That "this" is its meaning here is apparent from the parallel place in Co1 8:11, "And through thy knowledge shall thy weak brother perish." If it be asked how the eating of meat by the Gentile convert could be connected with the perdition of the Jew, I reply, that the apostle supposes that in this way an occasion of stumbling would be afforded to him, and he would come into condemnation. He might be led by example to partake against his own conscience, or he might be excited to anger, disgust, and apostasy from the Christian faith. Though the apostle believed that all who were true Christians would be saved, Rom 8:30-39, yet he believed that it would be brought about by the use of means, and that nothing should be done that would tend to hinder or endanger their salvation; Heb 6:4-9; Heb 2:1. God does not bring his people to heaven without the use of "means adapted to the end," and one of those means is that employed here to warn professing Christians against such conduct as might jeopard the salvation of their brethren.

For whom Christ died - The apostle speaks here of the possibility of endangering the salvation of those for whom Christ died, just as he does respecting the salvation of those who are in fact Christians. By those for whom Christ died, he undoubtedly refers here to "true Christians," for the whole discussion relates to them, and them only; compare Rom 14:3-4, Rom 14:7-8. This passage should not be brought, therefore, to prove that Christ died for all people, or for any who shall finally perish. Such a doctrine is undoubtedly true (in this sense; that there is in the death of Christ a "sufficiency for all," and that the "offer" is to all.) (compare Co2 5:14-15; Jo1 2:2; Pe2 2:1), but it is not the truth which is taught here. The design is to show the criminality of a course that would tend to the ruin of a brother. For these weak brethren, Christ laid down his precious life. He loved them; and shall we, to gratify our appetites, pursue a course which will tend to defeat the work of Christ, and ruin the souls redeemed by his blood?

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Be grieved (λυπεῖται) The close connection with destroy indicates that the meaning falls short of be destroyed, but is stronger than made to feel pain. It is a hurt to conscience, which, while not necessarily fatal, may lead to violation or hardening of conscience, and finally to fall. Compare Co1 8:9-12. Meat (βρῶμα) A general term for food. Charitably (κατὰ ἀγάπην) Lit., according to love. Rev. in love. See on Pe2 1:6. Him (ἐκεῖνον) The pronoun has a strongly defining force, explained by the following phrase.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
If thy brother is grieved - That is, wounded, led into sin. Destroy not him for whom Christ died - So we see, he for whom Christ died may be destroyed. With thy meat - Do not value thy meat more than Christ valued his life.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
If thy brother be grieved - If he think that thou doest wrong, and he is in consequence stumbled at thy conduct. Now walkest thou not charitably - Κατα αγαπην, According to love; for love worketh no ill to its neighbor; but by thy eating some particular kind of meat, on which neither thy life nor well-being depends, thou workest ill to him by grieving and distressing his mind; and therefore thou breakest the law of God in reference to him, while pretending that thy Christian liberty raises thee above his scruples. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died - This puts the uncharitable conduct of the person in question in the strongest light, because it supposes that the weak brother may be so stumbled as to fall and perish finally; even the man for whom Christ died. To injure a man in his circumstances is bad; to injure him in his person is worse; to injure him in his reputation is still worse; and to injure his soul is worst of all. No wickedness, no malice, can go farther than to injure and destroy the soul: thy uncharitable conduct may proceed thus far; therefore thou art highly criminal before God. From this verse we learn that a man for whom Christ died may perish, or have his soul destroyed; and destroyed with such a destruction as implies perdition; the original is very emphatic, μη - εκεινον απολλυε, ὑπερ οὑ Χριστος απεθανε. Christ died in his stead; do not destroy his soul. The sacrificial death is as strongly expressed as it can be, and there is no word in the New Testament that more forcibly implies eternal ruin than the verb απολλυω, from which is derived that most significant name of the Devil, ὁ Απολλυων, the Destroyer, the great universal murderer of souls.

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¹¹ And [2532] through [1909] thy [4674] knowledge [1108] shall [622] the weak [770] brother [80] perish [622], for [1223] whom [3739] Christ [5547] died [599]?

¹ But [1161] there were [1096] false prophets [5578] also [2532] among [1722] the people [2992], even [2532] as [5613] there shall be [2071] false teachers [5572] among [1722] you [5213], who [3748] privily shall bring in [3919] damnable [684] heresies [139], even [2532] denying [720] the Lord [1203] that bought [59] them [846], and bring [1863] upon themselves [1438] swift [5031] destruction [684].

² And [2532] he [846] is [2076] the propitiation [2434] for [4012] our [2257] sins [266]: and [1161] not [3756] for [4012] ours [2251] only [3440], but [235] also [2532] for [4012] the sins of the whole [3650] world [2889].

¹⁴ For [1063] the love [26] of Christ [5547] constraineth [4912] us [2248]; because we thus [5124] judge [2919], that [3754] if [1487] one [1520] died [599] for [5228] all [3956], then [686] were [599] all [3956] dead [599]:
¹⁵ And [2532] that he died [599] for [5228] all [3956], that [2443] they which live [2198] should [2198] not henceforth [3371] live [2198] unto themselves [1438], but [235] unto him which died [599] for [5228] them [846], and [2532] rose again [1453].

⁷ For [1063] none [3762] of us [2257] liveth [2198] to himself [1438], and [2532] no man [3762] dieth [599] to himself [1438].
⁸ For [1063] whether [1437] [5037] we live [2198], we live [2198] unto the Lord [2962]; and whether [1437] [5037] we die [599], we die [599] unto the Lord [2962]: whether [1437] [5037] we live [2198] therefore [3767], or [1437] [5037] die [599], we are [2070] the Lord's [2962].

³ Let [1848] not [3361] him that eateth [2068] despise [1848] him that eateth [2068] not [3361]; and [2532] let [2068] not [3361] him which eateth [2068] not [3361] judge [2919] him that eateth [2068]: for [1063] God [2316] hath received [4355] him [846].
⁴ Who [5101] art [1488] thou [4771] that judgest [2919] another man's [245] servant [3610]? to his own [2398] master [2962] he standeth [4739] or [2228] falleth [4098]. Yea [1161], he shall be holden up [2476]: for [1063] God [2316] is [2076] able [1415] to make [2476] him [846] stand [2476].

¹ Therefore [1223] [5124] we [2248] ought [1163] to give the more earnest [4056] heed [4337] to the things which we have heard [191], lest at any time [3379] we should let them slip [3901].

⁴ For [1063] it is impossible [102] for those who were once [530] enlightened [5461], and [5037] have tasted [1089] of the heavenly [2032] gift [1431], and [2532] were made [1096] partakers [3353] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151],
⁵ And [2532] have tasted [1089] the good [2570] word [4487] of God [2316], and [5037] the powers [1411] of the world [165] to come [3195],
⁶ If [2532] they shall fall away [3895], to renew them [340] again [3825] unto [1519] repentance [3341]; seeing they crucify [388] to themselves [1438] the Son [5207] of God [2316] afresh [388], and [2532] put him to an open shame [3856].
⁷ For [1063] the earth [1093] which [3588] drinketh in [4095] the rain [5205] that cometh [2064] oft [4178] upon [1909] it [846], and [2532] bringeth forth [5088] herbs [1008] meet [2111] for them [1565] [2532] by [1223] whom [3739] it is dressed [1090], receiveth [3335] blessing [2129] from [575] God [2316]:
⁸ But [1161] that which beareth [1627] thorns [173] and [2532] briers [5146] is rejected [96], and [2532] is nigh [1451] unto cursing [2671]; whose [3739] end [5056] is to [1519] be burned [2740].
⁹ But [1161], beloved [27], we are persuaded [3982] better things [2909] of [4012] you [5216], and [2532] things that accompany [2192] salvation [4991], though [1499] we [2980] thus [3779] speak [2980].

³⁰ Moreover [1161] whom [3739] he did predestinate [4309], them [5128] he [2564] also [2532] called [2564]: and [2532] whom [3739] he called [2564], them [5128] he [1344] also [2532] justified [1344]: and [1161] whom [3739] he justified [1344], them [5128] he [1392] also [2532] glorified [1392].
³¹ What [5101] shall we [2046] then [3767] say [2046] to [4314] these things [5023]? If [1487] God [2316] be for [5228] us [2257], who [5101] can be against [2596] us [2257]?
³² He that [3739] [1065] spared [5339] not [3756] his own [2398] Son [5207], but [235] delivered [3860] him [846] up [3860] for [5228] us [2257] all [3956], how [4459] shall he [5483] not [3780] with [4862] him [846] also [2532] freely give [5483] us [2254] all things [3956]?
³³ Who [5101] shall lay any thing [1458] to the charge [2596] of God's [2316] elect [1588]? It is God [2316] that justifieth [1344].
³⁴ Who [5101] is he that condemneth [2632]? It is Christ [5547] that died [599], yea [1161] rather [3123] [2532], that is risen again [1453], who [3739] is [2076] even [2532] at [1722] the right hand [1188] of God [2316], who [3739] also [2532] maketh intercession [1793] for [5228] us [2257].
³⁵ Who [5101] shall separate [5563] us [2248] from [575] the love [26] of Christ [5547]? shall tribulation [2347], or [2228] distress [4730], or [2228] persecution [1375], or [2228] famine [3042], or [2228] nakedness [1132], or [2228] peril [2794], or [2228] sword [3162]?
³⁶ As [2531] it is written [1125], [3754] For thy [4675] sake [1752] we are killed [2289] all [3650] the day long [2250]; we are accounted [3049] as [5613] sheep [4263] for the slaughter [4967].
³⁷ Nay [235], in [1722] all [3956] these things [5125] we are more than conquerors [5245] through [1223] him that loved [25] us [2248].
³⁸ For [1063] I am persuaded [3982], that [3754] neither [3777] death [2288], nor [3777] life [2222], nor [3777] angels [32], nor [3777] principalities [746], nor [3777] powers [1411], nor [3777] things present [1764], nor [3777] things to come [3195],
³⁹ Nor [3777] height [5313], nor [3777] depth [899], nor [3777] any [5100] other [2087] creature [2937], shall be able [1410] to separate [5563] us [2248] from [575] the love [26] of God [2316], which is in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424] our [2257] Lord [2962].

¹¹ And [2532] through [1909] thy [4674] knowledge [1108] shall [622] the weak [770] brother [80] perish [622], for [1223] whom [3739] Christ [5547] died [599]?

¹² For [1063] as many as [3745] have sinned [264] without law [460] shall [622] also [2532] perish [622] without law [460]: and [2532] as many as [3745] have sinned [264] in [1722] the law [3551] shall be judged [2919] by [1223] the law [3551];

¹⁵ That [3363] whosoever [3956] believeth [4100] in [1519] him [846] should [622] not [3363] perish [622], but [235] have [2192] eternal [166] life [2222].

¹⁴ Even so [3779] it is [2076] not [3756] the will [2307] of [1715] your [5216] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] heaven [3772], that [2443] one [1520] of these [5130] little ones [3398] should perish [622].

²⁸ And [2532] fear [5399] [575] not [3361] them which [3588] kill [615] the body [4983], but [1161] are [1410] not [3361] able [1410] to kill [615] the soul [5590]: but [1161] rather [3123] fear [5399] him which [3588] is able [1410] to destroy [622] both [2532] soul [5590] and [2532] body [4983] in [1722] hell [1067].

¹⁷ Neither [3761] do men put [906] new [3501] wine [3631] into [1519] old [3820] bottles [779]: else [1490] the bottles [779] break [4486], and [2532] the wine [3631] runneth out [1632], and [2532] the bottles [779] perish [622]: but [235] they put [906] new [3501] wine [3631] into [1519] new [2537] bottles [779], and [2532] both [297] are preserved [4933].

⁹ God [2316] is faithful [4103], by [1223] whom [3739] ye were called [2564] unto [1519] the fellowship [2842] of his [846] Son [5207] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] our [2257] Lord [2962].

⁶ But [1161] go [4198] rather [3123] to [4314] the lost [622] sheep [4263] of the house [3624] of Israel [2474].

²⁷ Labour [2038] not [3361] for the meat [1035] which [3588] perisheth [622], but [235] for that meat [1035] which [3588] endureth [3306] unto [1519] everlasting [166] life [2222], which [3739] the Son [5207] of man [444] shall give [1325] unto you [5213]: for [1063] him [5126] hath [4972] God [2316] the Father [3962] sealed [4972].

⁴ What [5101] man [444] of [1537] you [5216], having [2192] an hundred [1540] sheep [4263], if [2532] he lose [622] one [1520] of [1537] them [846], doth [2641] not [3756] leave [2641] the ninety and nine [1768] in [1722] the wilderness [2048], and [2532] go [4198] after [1909] that which is lost [622], until [2193] he find [2147] it [846]?

⁴¹ And [2532] when the ten [1176] heard [191] it, they began [756] to be much displeased [23] with [4012] James [2385] and [2532] John [2491].

³⁹ He that findeth [2147] his [846] life [5590] shall lose [622] it [846]: and [2532] he that loseth [622] his [846] life [5590] for my [1700] sake [1752] shall find [2147] it [846].

²¹ For [1063] all [3956] seek [2212] their own [1438], not [3756] the things which are [3588] Jesus [2424] Christ's [5547].

⁴ Look [4648] not [3361] every man [1538] on his own things [1438], but [235] every man [1538] also [2532] on the things [3588] of others [2087].

²⁸ But [1161] if [1437] any man [5100] say [2036] unto you [5213], This [5124] is [2076] offered in sacrifice unto idols [1494], eat [2068] not [3361] for [1223] his sake [1565] that shewed it [3377], and [2532] for conscience sake [4893]: for [1063] the earth [1093] is the Lord's [2962], and [2532] the fulness [4138] thereof [846]:
²⁹ Conscience [4893], [1161] I say [3004], not [3780] thine own [1438], but [235] of the other [2087]: for [1063] why [2444] is [2919] my [3450] liberty [1657] judged [2919] of [5259] another [243] man's conscience [4893]?

²⁴ Let [2212] no man [3367] seek [2212] his own [1438], but [235] every man [1538] another's [2087] wealth.

⁵ Doth [807] not [3756] behave itself unseemly [807], seeketh [2212] not [3756] her own [1438], is [3947] not [3756] easily provoked [3947], thinketh [3049] no [3756] evil [2556];

⁴ That [2443] the righteousness [1345] of the law [3551] might be fulfilled [4137] in [1722] us [2254], who walk [4043] not [3361] after [2596] the flesh [4561], but [235] after [2596] the Spirit [4151].

¹ There is therefore [686] now [3568] no [3762] condemnation [2631] to them which are in [1722] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424], who walk [4043] not [3361] after [2596] the flesh [4561], but [235] after [2596] the Spirit [4151].

⁴ Therefore [3767] we are buried with [4916] him [846] by [1223] baptism [908] into [1519] death [2288]: that [2443] like as [5618] Christ [5547] was raised up [1453] from [1537] the dead [3498] by [1223] the glory [1391] of the Father [3962], even so [3779] we [2249] also [2532] should walk [4043] in [1722] newness [2538] of life [2222].

²¹ And [1161] they are informed [2727] of [4012] thee [4675], that [3754] thou teachest [1321] all [3956] the Jews [2453] which are among [2596] the Gentiles [1484] to [575] forsake [646] Moses [3475], saying [3004] that they [846] ought [4059] not [3361] to circumcise [4059] their children [5043], neither [3366] to walk [4043] after the customs [1485].

⁵ Then [1899] the Pharisees [5330] and [2532] scribes [1122] asked [1905] him [846], Why [1302] walk [4043] not [3756] thy [4675] disciples [3101] according [2596] to the tradition [3862] of the elders [4245], but [235] eat [2068] bread [740] with unwashen [449] hands [5495]?

⁶ And [1161] to [1722] knowledge [1108] temperance [1466]; and [1161] to [1722] temperance [1466] patience [5281]; and [1161] to [1722] patience [5281] godliness [2150];

⁹ But [1161] take heed [991] lest [3381] by any means [4458] this [3778] liberty [1849] of yours [5216] become [1096] a stumblingblock [4348] to them that are weak [770].
¹⁰ For [1063] if [1437] any man [5100] see [1492] thee [4571] which [3588] hast [2192] knowledge [1108] sit at meat [2621] in [1722] the idol's temple [1493], shall [3618] not [3780] the conscience [4893] of him [846] which is [5607] weak [772] be emboldened [3618] [1519] to eat [2068] those things which are offered to idols [1494];
¹¹ And [2532] through [1909] thy [4674] knowledge [1108] shall [622] the weak [770] brother [80] perish [622], for [1223] whom [3739] Christ [5547] died [599]?
¹² But [1161] when ye sin [264] so [3779] against [1519] the brethren [80], and [2532] wound [5180] their [846] weak [770] conscience [4893], ye sin [264] against [1519] Christ [5547].